The game ended in an ICM chop, with Matthew Sabia taking second
Max Pinnola claimed victory at the Pennsylvania State Poker Championship after a hard-fought event at Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia. The $2,200 Event #3, sponsored by PokerStars, drew almost 250 entrants across four Day 1 flights. After the field narrowed to 34 players on Day 2, Pinnola emerged as the champion, securing a $103,000 payday from the $500,000 prize pool.
The final showdown came after 30 minutes of heads-up play between Pinnola and Matthew Sabia, who finished in second place. Both players had nearly identical chip stacks, each holding close to 6 million chips. They decided to agree on an ICM chop, with Pinnola taking the top prize, while Sabia walked away with $93,000.
In addition to the cash, Sabia claimed a PokerStars-sponsored Gold Pass to the North American Poker Tour (NAPT) Las Vegas Main Event in November. The pass is valued at $10,300 and includes travel, accommodations, and the $5,300 buy-in for the tournament.
Reflecting on his win, Pinnola shared with different media outlets that the victory was a significant moment for him. “It really means a lot to me,” he said, referencing his second-place finish earlier in the series, which earned him $47,142. Pinnola also highlighted the importance of experience in helping him stay composed when faced with challenging situations at the table.
Pinnola’s win at the Pennsylvania State Poker Championship adds another major score to his poker résumé, with his best finish still being the $257,100 he earned in December 2023 during a $1,500 No-Limit Hold ’em event.
